Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Five months and 99 posts later, here I am. Keeping with the tradition of marking post milestones, I am going to print something written by someone I admire tremendously. But before I do that, a mighty toast to all my readers who have endured my daily butchering of the English language and to those really brave ones who leave warm, encouraging comments day after day. Your tireless encouragement drives me to write. I don’t think I would have done the hundred without you. And to the strangers who lost their way and found me in the hollows of the W3, do delurk today and allow me to say hello to you.

Coming back to the point. I am going to print a transcript of a speech made by one of my favorite writers - Douglas Adams. The speech was made in 1998 at the Digital Biota 2, held at Magdelene College, Cambridge. To those who are not familiar with his works, this is how I would describe it- geaming wisdom enveloped in brilliant wit. Throw in some frank wonderment in the mix, a bit of sci-fi and you will get an idea what Douglas Adams is all about. I know there are a few Adams fans on my blogroll, so if you have not read this before, it will be a nice treat. To those who have not ventured in DNA-land (Douglas Adams’ initials are DNA), give this a try. Put the babies to bed, make yourself a nice cup of hot chocolate, find a quiet spot and read this. You won’t be disappointed.

Is there an Artificial God – Douglas Adams

[Excerpt]

So what we have arrived at here - and although the first shock wave of this arrival was in 1859, it's really the arrival of the computer that demonstrates it unarguably to us - is 'Is there really a Universe that is not designed from the top downwards but from the bottom upwards? Can complexity emerge from lower levels of simplicity?' It has always struck me as being bizarre that the idea of God as a creator was considered sufficient explanation for the complexity we see around us, because it simply doesn't explain where he came from. If we imagine a designer, that implies a design and that therefore each thing he designs or causes to be designed is a level simpler than him or her, then you have to ask 'What is the level above the designer?' There is one peculiar model of the Universe that has turtles all the way down, but here we have gods all the way up. It really isn't a very good answer, but a bottom-up solution, on the other hand, which rests on the incredibly powerful tautology of anything that happens, happens, clearly gives you a very simple and powerful answer that needs no other explanation whatsoever.But here's the interesting thing. I said I wanted to ask 'Is there an artificial god?' and this is where I want to address the question of why the idea of a god is so persuasive. I've already explained where I feel this kind of illusion comes from in the first place; it comes from a falseness in our perspective, because we are not taking into account that we are evolved beings, beings who have evolved into a particular landscape, into a particular environment with a particular set of skills and views of the world that have enabled us to survive and thrive rather successfully. But there seems to be an even more powerful idea than that, and this is the idea I want to propose, which is that the spot at the top of the pyramid that we previously said was whence everything flowed, may not actually be vacant just because we say the flow doesn't go that way.

Think I am the first person to comment on this 100th post of yours! CONGRATULATIONS! 100 in 5 months is no mean feat. Keep it going!currently reading "A short history of nearly everything"(Bill Bryson) and I can relate so much to the parts where DNA talks about universe and such. Sounds like an excellent book, I also have thought so much on these lines, hows & whys of religion/god.

//... it's worth trying to understand and preserve the essential components of, rather than throwing out the baby with the bath water; because even though we may not accept the reasons given for them being here in the first place, it may well be that there are good practical reasons for them, or something like them, to be there. //

And thats what my mom has been telling me for the past 2 decades! Moms are never wrong, are they? Thanks for the enlightening post DM. And congrats on 100. Heres to a 1000! :)

Congrats on your 100th post dotmom.. and I love reading all your post!!! and in 5 months... wow you are fast!!! I will be back for Douglas Adams.. I loved his Hitchikers Guide ... but need to put Nantu to bed first!!

congrats on the quick century. I love reading your blog, especially the one's starring chip. Keep 'em coming.. Will be back for the DNA read. As you said in your comment, will print it out and read while relaxing :)

Happy 100, my friend! (And stop fishing for compliments, ok?) You know you write fabulously (along with all the other things you do - it's not fair!)

Will come back for DNA - have only read Hitchhikers and Dirk Gently - haven't read any of his non-fiction pieces. And having read almost everything by Bryson, I'd strongly recommend him to you as well. 'History' is good, but all his travel pieces are great fun too - funny and insightful. Do check them out.

Hi dotmom, Delurking to say hi at everyone's 100th post seems to be the thing that I am doing these days. I don't blog, but love to read them and I enjoyed the 3 part series about chip.Congratulations!!

Do you know I had to click 17 times to get to the comments icon to write you this?? :)

I haven't read the entire post yet, just the part where I know yo reached your 100. Wanted to say a huge congratulations to you for making it not just to the 100, but to a most qualitative 100!! Every post of your has been a pleasure to read with your unique style shining through and giving a hint of the persona behind it. Congratulations.

I am delurking here for the first time. Congrats on the century! Blog posts must be like making millions - only the first is difficult,the rest all add up fast don't they :)? Keep them coming.

//as we move further and further into the field of digital or artificial life we will find ... this is a precise parallel to the entities we create around ourselves to inform and shape our lives and enable us to work and live together.//Interesting !

My day started off well with a hot cup of tea ,the DNA excerpt and some serious thinking for the rest of the day - thank you! Had only read Hitchhikers - have to catch up on a lot of other amazing stuff. And Bill Bryson's travel pieces -they are such fun stuff ! You will love them .